It’s not every day that a long-dormant experimental noise project reappears as an elite electronic-pop outfit intent on burrowing into your subconscious and unearthing deep-seated memories of a time when we could congregate freely without worry.
In 2014, the duo known as Allegories began experimenting across genres, melding eclectic soundscapes with pop inclinations. Gathering further inspiration from DJing house and hip-hop nights around town, Allegories went on to create electronic music that shifts throughout the over/underground spectrum.
After taking a stretch of years off to truly find their sound, the duo reemerged with a string of singles dating back to 2024. The eclectic and immersive “The Next Life” continues Allegories’ experimental journey into this foggy cross-section between genres, bringing technicolored, blinking flashlights to guide us through their psychedelic, electro-shoegaze wonderland. This latest single features heavenly harmonies that reach cruising altitude somewhere in the stratosphere, and, ironically, those same vocals are the element on “The Next Life” that anchors it to reality. The instrumentation leaps and jerks with equal amounts of purpose and reckless abandon, giving the song an unpredictable atmosphere that is all too enticing. From percussion-heavy moments of cataclysmic infectiousness to gentle, snow-like ambiance, “The Next Life” captures the moment your mind clears and quiet peace finds you. Allegories are back in a big way, and if “The Next Life” is any indication of where this duo is heading, it’s important to step into their universe as soon as possible.
“The song began on ukulele, then was recontextualized through electronic instruments, and finally reshaped using the organic, analog gear most associated with a rock band. The vocals were assembled from four different takes of the song,” explains the duo. “Each line carries its own history because it was originally sung with a different intent, and that intent still lingers. The result is layers of conflicting emotions that give each line deeper meaning but ultimately speak to a failed worldview. We don’t want to be pessimistic, but sometimes the world around you can’t help but influence your resolve. But in the next life? Well, we’ll correct the imbalance then.”
